I attended the Build to Learn event to explore new ideas, gain knowledge, and enhance my skills. During the event, a Hackathon program was conducted, and we were given a topic for a mini project with a 3-hour time limit to complete it.
Our team consisted of 4 members, and our assigned topic was to create a Water Reminder App with animations and interactive features to encourage people to drink more water.
Our Idea: „Virtual Fish Pond“ Water Reminder App
A fun and interactive water drinking reminder app where users care for a virtual fish pond. Every time you drink water, you tap the pond to add water and keep the fish alive. If you forget to drink (and tap the pond), the water level decreases and the fish become sad or sick — and eventually, they can „die“ if ignored for too long.
Tools and Technologies Used:
Design: Figma
Front-end: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Back-end: Python
Database: (planned but not connected due to time constraints)
Although we successfully designed the app and implemented key frontend features, we were unable to complete the full integration between the frontend, backend, and database within the given time frame. Despite this, it was a valuable learning experience and helped us understand how to work as a team under pressure, manage time, and build creative solutions.
When I went to attend the Build to Learn event, I was excited but also a bit nervous. During the Hackathon, we faced a few challenges, mainly because our team wasn’t fully organized in the beginning, and we ended up making a few mistakes. However, one thing that really stood out to me was how supportive the people around us were.
No one judged us or made us feel bad for struggling. Instead, everyone encouraged us and motivated us to confidently present and explain our project, even if it wasn’t perfect. That support made a big difference for me.
One thing I truly appreciated was that even though I struggled with speaking English, no one laughed or made fun of me. That gave me a huge boost in confidence. I slowly started speaking, and by the end of the event, I felt much more comfortable trying to communicate in English. It felt really good.
I also had the chance to meet a very kind and helpful mentor (a ma’am) who guided us throughout the project. She patiently helped and supported us a lot—I’m really grateful to her.
Also, I have to mention our trainer, Vijay Sir. We kept bothering him with so many questions, but he was always there to help. He supported me a lot and never got tired of our doubts.
I also interacted with a few senior brothers (anna) who helped clarify many doubts. Talking to the people there, even if it was just a little, made a big impact on me.
Overall Experience:
It was a new and memorable experience for me. I gained a lot of confidence—especially in speaking English—and learned how important it is to have a supportive environment. This event pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. It wasn’t just about building a project; it was about building myself too.